*this dye was obtained by the egyptiansfrom the shell-fish Carthamus tinctoriusand by the Hebrews from the Coccus ilicis,an insect which infests oak trees... calledKermes by the Arabians. It was one of thecolors of the ephod (Ex. 28:6) and thebreastplate of the High Priests. Scarletand crimson are the firmest of dyes-thus not easily washed out of cloth or heart.